Do you have a disability that "forces" you to be barefoot and have been denied entry into a store because you were barefoot?
If so, you have rights!
Please contact the Americans with Disabilities at http://www.ada.gov/filing_complaint.htm, and file a complaint.
As many of you know, a few years back, typical, modern running shoes crippled my feet so severely with Morton's Neuroma (MN) that I followed my doctors' (plural) advice and had many, various treatments and surgeries to try to rid my feet of the neuromas. Most of these treatments/surgeries only made my condition worse. Now I deal with a great deal of pain in my heels and arches when I have been on my feet for a period of time. It is believed that 53% of those with MN also suffer with Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome (TTS) according to a study by Dr. A. Lee Dellon, John Hopkins Institute, who also diagnosed me with TTS prior to doing the TTS decompression...which failed.
When I go into a store, many times, I have to sit down to rest my feet or take my shoes off if I need to keep going so I can keep going. Even flip-flops irritate my condition, but going barefoot helps a great deal. (FYI... In some situations, terrain and temperature, I have to wear sensible footwear.)
Recently, a friend of mine told me about an experience he had going into a store barefoot where he was discriminated against, told to leave, and had the police called on him, even though he showed them a note from his doctor explaining his disability.
I hope this doesn't happen to me or any of you, but if it does, please stand up for your rights. There are some things you can do to try to sway the situation in your favor.
Best Buy. Worst Way. -- http://ahcuah.wordpress.com/2014/08/27/best-buy-worst-way/
Best Buy. Wussed Way. -- http://ahcuah.wordpress.com/2014/08/28/best-buy-wussed-way/
The Americans with Disabilities Act and the Barefooted -- http://ahcuah.wordpress.com/2014/09...bilities-act-and-the-barefooted/#comment-8006
If so, you have rights!
Please contact the Americans with Disabilities at http://www.ada.gov/filing_complaint.htm, and file a complaint.
As many of you know, a few years back, typical, modern running shoes crippled my feet so severely with Morton's Neuroma (MN) that I followed my doctors' (plural) advice and had many, various treatments and surgeries to try to rid my feet of the neuromas. Most of these treatments/surgeries only made my condition worse. Now I deal with a great deal of pain in my heels and arches when I have been on my feet for a period of time. It is believed that 53% of those with MN also suffer with Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome (TTS) according to a study by Dr. A. Lee Dellon, John Hopkins Institute, who also diagnosed me with TTS prior to doing the TTS decompression...which failed.
When I go into a store, many times, I have to sit down to rest my feet or take my shoes off if I need to keep going so I can keep going. Even flip-flops irritate my condition, but going barefoot helps a great deal. (FYI... In some situations, terrain and temperature, I have to wear sensible footwear.)
Recently, a friend of mine told me about an experience he had going into a store barefoot where he was discriminated against, told to leave, and had the police called on him, even though he showed them a note from his doctor explaining his disability.
I hope this doesn't happen to me or any of you, but if it does, please stand up for your rights. There are some things you can do to try to sway the situation in your favor.
- First, carry a note from your doctor explaining your disability making sure the note mentions your being barefoot as helping your condition.
- Post here to tell us your story to see if anyone may have any info that could help you. I have a feeling that if our numbers grow, we may just have our own special division of Americans with Disabilities, Barefoot Americans with Disabilities (BAD).
- Read about your rights in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Title III Technical Assistance Manual, available here: http://www.ada.gov/taman3.html
- File a complaint with the ADA here: http://www.ada.gov/filing_complaint.htm
III-4.1200 Safety. A public accommodation may impose legitimate safety requirements necessary for safe operation. However, the public accommodation must ensure that its safety requirements are based on real risks, not on speculation, stereotypes, or generalizations about individuals with disabilities.
The claim of "concern for my safety" is based almost completely on speculation and myth and is therefore not legitimate. *I* am the one who is able to judge what is safe or not for me. Any fears anybody might have about safety are greatly exaggerated and in no way are based on knowledge of real risks. I have*never* injured my feet in any public accommodation. (I did, however, shatter the cartilage in my knee at a location that forced me to put on footwear against my better judgment and my knee twisted in a fashion I did not expect because of the footwear. I will not allow that to happen again.)
III-4.1100 General. A public accommodation may not impose eligibility criteria that either screen out or tend to screen out persons with disabilities from fully and equally enjoying any goods, services, privileges, advantages, or accommodations offered to individuals without disabilities, unless it can show that such requirements are necessary for the provision of the goods, services, privileges, advantages, or accommodations.
An undocumented requirement, [made up on the spot] that I wear shoes is NOT necessary for the provision of goods, services, privileges, advantages, or accommodations in stores.
III-4.1300 Unnecessary inquiries. The ADA prohibits unnecessary inquiries into the existence of a disability.
They don't have the right to ask you for proof that you are disabled, but you can carry a letter if you feel it may help your situation.
I have added Ahcuah's blog posts about his fight with Best Buy and his appealing to the ADA for justice here, in order:Best Buy. Worst Way. -- http://ahcuah.wordpress.com/2014/08/27/best-buy-worst-way/
Best Buy. Wussed Way. -- http://ahcuah.wordpress.com/2014/08/28/best-buy-wussed-way/
The Americans with Disabilities Act and the Barefooted -- http://ahcuah.wordpress.com/2014/09...bilities-act-and-the-barefooted/#comment-8006